The Opportunity Equation

Schwarz offers an inspiring chronicle of scholarly triumphs and generous citizen activism, as well as a constructive blueprint for boosting achievement without abandoning public education. -Publishers Weekly A call to action for citizens and educators so that the achievement gap can be closed as rapidly as possible. -Kirkus Reviews What a fun and instructive story of the birth and growth of an important social enterprise, from one of our nation's most insightful social entrepreneurs. The Opportunity Equation offers new perspective on what it will truly take, inside and outside the traditional classroom, to provide an excellent education for all of America's children. Anyone working, or volunteering, to close opportunity and achievement gaps should read this book. -Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America and CEO of Teach For All Eric Schwarz and Citizen Schools have empowered thousands of low-income children across America so they could graduate college, get terrific jobs, and join the middle class. In The Opportunity Equation, Schwarz shows us what public education needs to look like if America is going to continue to be a leading economic power. -Geoffrey Canada, president of the Harlem Children's Zone and author of Fist Stick Knife Gun For twenty years Citizen Schools has been lifting up opportunity from East Durham in North Carolina to East Oakland in California. Now, the organization's visionary founder has laid out a new blueprint for our schools in the twenty-first century, a vision with more mentoring, more time for learning, and more real-world projects-more of all the stuff that our wealthier children already take for granted. Bravo! -Edward Fiske, former New York Times education editor and author of The Fiske Guide to Colleges